Visible multiple codes system

Abstract

A color discriminating apparatus reads a plurality of colored dots placed on computer readable media. The plurality of colored dots represents encoded data that has a plurality of non-binary digits where each non-binary digit has at least three possible digit values. Each non-binary digit is represented by a single colored dot from the plurality of colored dots, and each possible digit value is represented by a different color so that a color of each colored dot indicates a digital value represented by the colored dot. The color discriminating apparatus detects a color of each colored dot in the plurality of colored dots. A module correlates the color of each colored dot in the plurality of colored dots detected by the color discriminating apparatus to recover an original digital value represented by each colored dot in the plurality of colored dots and to recover the encoded data that is represented by the plurality of non-binary digits.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A non-binary data storage system, comprising,
 an encoder that produces encoded data that is represented by a plurality of non-binary digits where each non-binary digit has at least three possible digit values; 
 a printer that places a plurality of single-color star-shaped dots on computer readable media to represent the encoded data so that each non-binary digit is represented by one single-color star-shaped dot, and each possible digit value is represented by a different color so that a color of each single-color star-shaped dot indicates a digital value represented the single-color star-shaped dot, wherein each single color star-shaped dot is a solid color dot without outlines and without background frame regions; 
 a color discriminating apparatus that reads the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots, including detecting a color of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots; 
 a module that correlates the color of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots detected by the color discriminating apparatus to recover an original digital value represented by each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots and to recover the encoded data that is represented by the plurality of non-binary digits. 
 
     
     
       2. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein the color discriminating apparatus comprises:
 an electromechanical read apparatus configured to emit color detecting beams for reading; and, 
 micro color sensors that detect a color property of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots. 
 
     
     
       3. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein the different colors are selected from colors in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, having wavelengths between 380 nanometers (nm) and 720 nm. 
     
     
       4. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein the different colors each comprise one of the following colors: red, green, blue, white, yellow, cyan, magenta, black or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       5. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein each non-binary digit has four possible digit values represented by four different colors. 
     
     
       6. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein each non-binary digit has five possible digit values represented by five different colors. 
     
     
       7. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein each non-binary digit has six possible digit values represented by six different colors. 
     
     
       8. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein each non-binary digit has seven possible digit values represented by seven different colors. 
     
     
       9. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein each non-binary digit has eight possible digit values represented by eight different colors. 
     
     
       10. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 1 , wherein each non-binary digit has more than eight possible digit values represented by more than eight different colors. 
     
     
       11. A non-binary data storage system, comprising,
 a color discriminating apparatus that reads a plurality of single-color star-shaped dots placed on computer readable media, the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots representing encoded data that has a plurality of non-binary digits where each non-binary digit has at least three possible digit values, each non-binary digit being represented by one single-color star-shaped dot from the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots, and each possible digit value is represented by a different color so that a color of each single-color star-shaped dot indicates a digital value represented by the single-color star-shaped dot, wherein the color discriminating apparatus detects a color of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots, wherein each single color star-shaped dot is a solid color dot without outlines and without background frame regions; 
 a module that correlates the color of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots detected by the color discriminating apparatus to recover an original digital value represented by each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots and to recover the encoded data that is represented by the plurality of non-binary digits. 
 
     
     
       12. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 11 , wherein the color discriminating apparatus comprises:
 an electromechanical read apparatus configured to emit color detecting beams for reading; and, 
 micro color sensors that detect a color property of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots. 
 
     
     
       13. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 11 , wherein the different colors are selected from colors in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, having wavelengths between 380 nanometers (nm) and 720 nm. 
     
     
       14. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 11 , wherein the different colors each comprise one of the following colors: red, green, blue, white, yellow, cyan, magenta, black or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       15. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 11 , wherein each non-binary digit has three possible digit values represented by three different colors. 
     
     
       16. A non-binary data storage system as in  claim 11 , wherein each non-binary digit has eight possible digit values represented by eight different colors. 
     
     
       17. A method for storing and recovering data, comprising:
 producing encoded data that is represented by a plurality of non-binary digits where each non-binary digit has at least three possible digit values; 
 placing a plurality of single-color star-shaped dots on computer readable media to represent the encoded data so that each non-binary digit is represented by one single-color star-shaped dot, and each possible digit value is represented by a different color so that a color of each single-color star-shaped dot indicates a digital value represented the single-color star-shaped dot, wherein each single color star-shaped dot is a solid color dot without outlines and without background frame regions; 
 reading the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots, including detecting a color of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots; 
 correlating the color of each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots detected by the color discriminating apparatus to recover an original digital value represented by each single-color star-shaped dot in the plurality of single-color star-shaped dots and to recover the encoded data that is represented by the plurality of non-binary digits. 
 
     
     
       18. A method as in  claim 17 , wherein the different colors are selected from colors in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, having wavelengths between 380 nanometers (nm) and 720 nm.